The pandemic-era labor market disruption continues to reshape American careers in unexpected ways, especially for working parents seeking financial stability. For Melissa Torres, a 34-year-old single mother from Portland, Oregon, the path to economic security came through an unlikely source: a skilled trade apprenticeship that doubled her hourly wage.
Torres spent nearly a decade in retail and food service roles, jobs that offered flexibility but limited her earning potential to around $15 per hour. With two children to support, the financial math simply wasn’t working. “Every month was a struggle to decide which bills could wait,” Torres told me during our interview. “I was constantly juggling childcare costs against everything else.”
The turning point came when Torres discovered Women in Trades, a nonprofit organization connecting women with apprenticeship opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields. After completing a pre-apprenticeship program, she secured a position with an electrical contractor, starting at $22 per hour with a clear path to $36 within four years.
Her story represents a growing trend. According to the Department of Labor, apprenticeship participation among women increased 53% between 2018 and 2023. The skilled trades sector, facing critical worker shortages, has begun actively recruiting previously overlooked demographic groups, including single parents.
“We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how skilled trades view their talent pipeline,” explains Robert Fitzgerald, economist at the Center for Economic Opportunity. “The aging workforce in plumbing, electrical, and construction trades has created urgent demand that can’t be met through traditional recruitment channels.”
The financial implications for participants are substantial. Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland research indicates that skilled trade apprentices earn, on average, $300,000 more over their lifetime than peers with only high school diplomas. For single parents, this wage premium can be transformative.
What makes these programs particularly valuable for single parents is their “earn while you learn” structure. Unlike traditional college education requiring upfront investment and delayed returns, apprentices receive wages from day one while gaining marketable skills.
Torres emphasized this point: “Going back to school full-time wasn’t an option for me financially. With the apprenticeship, I started earning more immediately while building toward something better.”
Industry data from the Associated Builders and Contractors shows the median journey-level wage for electricians now exceeds $30 per hour nationally, with plumbers and HVAC technicians earning similar compensation. These roles typically include comprehensive benefits packages and, critically for working parents, predictable scheduling after the apprenticeship period.
The transition hasn’t been without challenges. Torres described initial skepticism from male colleagues and the logistical complexities of balancing childcare with work requirements. “There were definitely moments I questioned whether I could make it work,” she admitted. “But the financial difference has been life-changing. I’m not just surviving anymore.”
Organizations like Women in Trades provide crucial support services that help participants navigate these barriers. “We recognized early that traditional apprenticeship programs weren’t designed with single parents in mind,” said Elena Martinez, the organization’s executive director. “Our model includes childcare stipends, transportation assistance, and mentorship from women who’ve successfully completed the journey.”
Federal policy has also evolved to address these needs. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act now provides specific funding for pre-apprenticeship programs targeting underrepresented groups. The Biden administration’s infrastructure investments have further expanded these opportunities, with the Department of Transportation requiring workforce development components in many funded projects.
Economic research from the Brookings Institution suggests these initiatives could help address persistent gender wage gaps. In skilled trades, women earn approximately 97 cents to the dollar compared to male counterparts—significantly better than the 82-cent average across all sectors.
For employers, the benefits extend beyond addressing labor shortages. “Companies that have diversified their workforce report improvements in problem-solving and workplace culture,” notes Jennifer Garcia, research fellow at the Urban Institute. “They’re discovering that different perspectives lead to innovation.”
Looking ahead, industry experts project continued growth in demand for skilled tradespeople. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 5% average growth across construction trades through 2030, with some specialties like solar installation technicians expected to grow by over 50%.
For Torres, the apprenticeship has provided something equally valuable: career stability. “In retail, I was always worried about hours being cut or stores closing,” she said. “Now I have marketable skills that will always be in demand. That security means everything when you’re raising kids on your own.”
As the American workforce continues evolving post-pandemic, Torres’ experience highlights an important pathway for economic mobility that deserves greater attention from policymakers and career counselors. For millions of single parents seeking financial security, the skilled trades may offer a viable alternative to the debt-heavy college pathway that has dominated career guidance for decades.
“I wish someone had told me about these opportunities years ago,” Torres reflected. “There’s still this perception that trade work isn’t for women or parents. That needs to change, because this career has changed everything for my family.”
